The conference program is currently being developed. Confirmed presenters will be listed below as they commit to the program. The final program will be provided as soon as possible.

If there is a presenter you would like to hear, please email Danielle Achikian with their details and why you think their input would be of value.

Sister Carol Zinn ssj

Executive Director of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious

Dr Carol Zinn, a Sister of St Joseph from Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, PA has ministered in the formal and non-formal education profession. She has taught from pre-K through to post-graduate and has worked in the fields of educational leadership, religious education, sacramental coordinator, and music minister. Dr Zinn has a Bachelor of Science in Education, a Master’s in Theology and a Doctorate in Curriculum Development and Education Foundations. She was also a research fellow at Episcopal Divinity School and Harvard University on the topic: Leadership and Transformation.

Dr Zinn worked in grassroots-based international movements as consultant and facilitator. In particular, she worked on the United Religions Initiative and the Earth Charter. She works with multi-sector and multi-issue groups in helping people deepen an understanding of global realities, local efforts, and the connections inherent. Dr Zinn also worked as the Education Program Director for Global Education Associates, a non-governmental organization working to further global systemic change.

Dr Zinn served as the main representative for the Congregations of St Joseph, an NGO in General Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council at the United Nations. She represented over 15,000 Sisters of St Joseph who live and minister in 57 countries. In this capacity she participated in UN meetings on the topics of Human Rights, Eradication of Poverty, Environment, Peace and Disarmament, Education, Sustainable Development, Women, Children and Healthcare. She also spent time with individual congregations and provinces in helping them connect their particular efforts and energies to the global issues and concerns.

Dr Zinn served on her Congregation’s leadership team and in the Presidency of Leadership Conference of Women Religious for a three year term, 2012-2015. She served as the Senior Vice President for Mission Integration for Plante Moran Cresa Company working with Congregations as they discerned the future of their mission and charism and fully living of their religious life during these transformational times. Currently Carol serves as the Executive Director of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious.

Bishop Paul Tighe

Secretary, Pontifical Council for Culture

Paul Tighe was born 1958 and completed his secondary education at Summerhill College, Sligo. He graduated from University College Dublin in 1979 with a degree in Civil Law.

Having studied for the priesthood at Holy Cross College, Dublin and at the Pontifical Irish College in Rome, he was ordained a priest of the Dublin Diocese in 1983. His first appointment was as parish chaplain and teacher in Ballyfermot. Subsequently, he was assigned to study Moral Theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.

In 1990, Paul was appointed as a Lecturer in Moral Theology at the Mater Dei Institute of Education in Dublin and at Holy Cross College. In 2004 he was named as Director of the Communications Office of Dublin Diocese. In 2005 he established the Office for Public Affairs which aimed to promote the engagement of the Diocese with public institutions and civic society.

In November 2007 he was appointed as Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications. In that capacity he was involved in promoting Church reflection on the importance of digital culture and in the launch of some of the social media initiatives of the Holy See.

In June 2014 he was appointed Secretary to the Vatican Media Committee, chaired by Lord Christopher Patten, which was charged with developing a plan for the restructuring of the Holy See’s communications resources.

In December 2015 he was nominated Adjunct Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Culture and titular Bishop of Drivastum. At the Council for Culture, Bishop Tighe has taken a special issue in questions related to digital culture (artificial intelligence etc.) and contemporary literature. In October 2017, he was nominated Secretary of the Council.

Ravina Waldren

Coordinator, Murri Ministry, Archdiocese of Brisbane

Biography to come...

Mr Robert Fitzgerald AM

Commissioner, Productivity Commission

Robert Fitzgerald AM was a Commissioner on the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse for five years and is currently a full time Commissioner with the Productivity Commission. Robert was formerly the NSW Community and Disability Services Commissioner and Deputy Ombudsman.

Robert, a commercial lawyer by profession, has a diverse background and extensive experience in commerce, law, public policy and community services. He has served on numerous NGO boards and committees including previously as President Australian Council of Social Service. Robert was the inaugural Chair of the Advisory Board, Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission. He has been involved in numerous Catholic agencies including as State President of the St Vincent de Paul Society NSW, Board of Caritas Australia and Member of the NSW Catholic Commission on Employment Relations.

Robert holds degrees in commerce and law from the University of NSW and an honorary doctorate from the Australian Catholic University. He was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1994.

Mrs Lana Turvey-Collins

Plenary Council 2020 Facilitator

In November 2017 Lana Turvey-Collins began with the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference working to facilitate a three year process of listening, dialogue and discernment about the future of the Catholic Church in Australia. Prior to this appointment, Lana worked as the Program Manager for Mission Formation and Professional Development for Catholic Mission. She has studied in the areas of mission, theology and Church, and holds bachelor degrees in commerce and arts and a master's degree in development and human rights.

Before joining Catholic Mission, Lana worked with teams in business on leadership, implementation of vision, values and organisational culture. Lana is passionate about God’s mission and believes there is great richness amidst the diversity and difference in the world. She has lived and worked in Zambia, Peru, Timor-Leste and Japan.

Conference Presenters

Sr Lyndall Brown rsj

Spiritual Accompanier of Retreats and Workshops

Lyndall Brown is a Sister of St. Joseph whose life has been enriched in the various ministries she has been involved in, beginning with Education. For many years Lyndall has been involved in working with adults, enabling them to enrich their lives through retreats, workshops in spirituality and personal group, and through Spiritual Accompaniment.

Fr Noel Connolly SSC

Head of Mission and Culture, Catholic Institute of Sydney

Noel Connolly is a Columban missionary priest. He worked in Korea, was Rector of the Pacific Mission Institute, Vicar General of the Columbans world-wide, and Director of the Columbans in Australia and New Zealand. He is presently Head of Mission and Culture at the Catholic Institute of Sydney and member of Catholic Mission’s Adult Formation Team. He has also been appointed by the Australian Bishops as a member of the Facilitation Team for the Plenary Council 2020. Besides mission theology, his major interest is in growing our increasingly multicultural Australian Church. He has worked with numerous Dioceses to help welcome and enable overseas priests and religious.

Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB

Archbishop of Perth

Born in Melbourne Timothy Costelloe worked in industry and started studying to be a teacher before joining the Salesians of Don Bosco in 1977. In 1985 he made his Final Profession as a Salesian of Don Bosco and was ordained to the priesthood in 1986.

After three years as Religious Education Coordinator at Salesian College, Chadstone, he went to Rome to complete a Licentiate in Sacred Theology at the Salesian Pontifical University in 1991. He returned to Melbourne to lecture in Systematic Theology at Catholic Theological College.

In 1996 he became parish priest of St Joachim’s, Victoria Park, WA and lectured in theology at the University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle. He also completed his doctorate in theology from the Melbourne College of Divinity.

He was appointed as Rector of the Salesian formation community in Melbourne in 2000 and resumed teaching commitments at Catholic Theological College. In 2006 he became parish priest of St John the Baptist Parish, Clifton Hill and in the following year of the adjoining parish of St Joseph’s, Collingwood. He was a member of the Provincial Council of the Salesians from 2002-2007, Provincial Delegate for Formation in the Australian Province from 2003-2007, and Regional Delegate for Formation for the East Asia-Oceania Salesian region in 2006.

Archbishop Costelloe was appointed Titular Bishop of Clonard and Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne on 30 April 2007. As an auxiliary bishop in Melbourne, he was given responsibility for the northern region of the Archdiocese and made Episcopal Vicar for Tertiary Education, Chair of the Catholic Education Commission of Victoria, Chair of the Mannix College Council, Chair of the Steering Committee for the Catholic Leadership Centre, Chair of the Advisory Board of the Archbishop’s Office for Evangelisation and the Archbishop’s delegate for Youth Ministry in the Archdiocese of Melbourne. He was also an Adjunct Professor at the Australian Catholic University.

On 20 February 2012, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Archbishop Costelloe as the ninth Bishop and sixth Archbishop of Perth. He was solemnly installed on 21 March 2012.

In the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, Archbishop Costelloe is currently a member of the Permanent Committee, the Bishops Commission for Doctrine and Morals and the Bishops Commission for the Plenary Council. He was appointed by the Pope Francis as President of the Plenary Council 2020 in March 2018.

Ms Andrea Dean

Director, Office for the Participation of Women and the Office for Lay Pastoral Ministry

Andrea Dean grew up in the small gold mining village of Adelong on the south western slopes of New South Wales. After training as teacher she worked in various fields of education for more than 30 years.

Initially she taught in rural New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. A highlight was the time she spent living in Papua New Guinea where she worked in the Vanimo district from 1993 to 1996.

Eventually settling in Canberra, Andrea has been involved in leadership, facilitation and teaching through the Catholic Education Office, the Australian Catholic University and the University of Canberra. In 2004, she received a Churchill Fellowship and visited the USA to investigate programs in teacher formation. For a time, Andrea worked as an independent consultant and retreat facilitator in her business, Future Matters. Currently Director of the Office for the Participation of Women and the Office for Lay Pastoral Ministry within the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, she is passionate about making a difference in the world and in the Church.

Patrick has studied widely and extensively in areas including theology, education, music, philosophy, international development and cross-cultural studies. He has lived in the United States of America, Italy, Guatemala (in both Indigenous and Latino Communities) and Singapore and has travelled extensively. Fluent in five languages, Patrick’s most recent work has been throughout Asia working with multi-national companies in cross-cultural relationships and communications.

Mr Phil Glenndening

Director, Edmund Rice Centre

Phil Glendenning AM Director, Edmund Rice Centre & President, Refugee Council of Australia Keynote speaker Phil was one of the original co-founders of Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation (ANTaR) and for 10 years was National President. He has served on the Australian Council for Social Service, various committees of the Australian Council for Overseas Aid and the Centre for an Ethical Society. Phil also led the research team for the Deported To Danger series, which monitored the safety of rejected asylum seekers in 22 countries, and resulted in the internationally screened documentary, A Well Founded Fear.

Mr Lawrie Hallinan

Executive Officer, Association of Ministerial PJPs

Lawrie grew up in Gippsland before moving to Melbourne where he worked on the Diocesan Youth Apostolate (1986-87). Having completed a Social Work degree he then worked in mental health.

For the past 22 years he has lived in Newcastle, NSW, where he has been active within the Church and worked in management of NGO mental health and aged care.

Since 2017, Lawrie has been employed as Executive Officer with the Association of Ministerial PJPs and been a member of the Board of Southern Cross Care (NSW & ACT). These settings enable him to pursue his passion for social justice, environmental sustainability and best practice governance.

Mr Tony and Mrs Annette Hoban

Married for more than 30 years Tony and Annette Hoban have three adult children. Tony is a permanent Deacon, ordained in 2009.

Tony is Director of Formation for the Permanent Diaconate in the Diocese of Parramatta and on the National Executive of the National Association of Deacons. He is also involved in prison ministry with Kairos.

Bishop of Parramatta, Vincent Long, appointed Tony as Pastoral Director of the Parochial District (future parish) of St Luke’s, Marsden Park from January 2018. Marsden Park is a rapidly growing new suburb in the north-west of Sydney. St Luke’s Catholic Faith Community celebrates Mass at St Luke’s Catholic College, Marsden Park, a new school which commenced in 2017.

In the leadership of this community Tony and Annette are supported by an advisory group which was formed shortly after their move to Marsden Park.

Tony, Annette and their children had been parishioners at Christ The King Parish, North Rocks, for 15 years before this appointment, with Tony as Deacon for the final 8 years.

Tony moved to this role after a career which spanned many areas, from starting out as a newspaper journalist, to working as Media and Government Relations Manager with NRMA, to senior business management roles in a number of organisations, such as Business Manager for CatholicCare Social Services in the Diocese of Parramatta, as Executive Officer for St Vincent de Paul Society, Parramatta, a short time with Catholic Mission and establishing campus ministry services nationally for staff of Australian Catholic University.

Tony has a Bachelor of Theology degree, a Master of Business Administration and a Company Directors’ Diploma and has recently been undertaking studies in Pastoral Counselling.

Annette has worked for the Federal court reporting service and in retail, service and education roles.

Both Tony and Annette have served as President of the North Rocks Conference of the St Vincent de Paul Society.

Bernard Holland

Director, Catholic Earthcare, Australia

Bernard is an educator and advocate with 22 years’ experience as a Primary School principal in rural, remote and metropolitan schools including ten years as foundation principal of St Mary MacKillop School, Birkdale.

After being awarded a Churchill Fellowship and travelling extensively researching ecology programs and the sustainable built environment, Bernard worked with Brisbane Catholic Education on their response to ecological conversion in schools and their new schools. He was then appointed as Director of Eco Schools based in Copenhagen, coordinating the largest environmental education network globally, operating in 64 countries.

In recent years, Bernard has worked in both education and advocacy roles in a number of organisations to drive sustainability in the areas of agriculture and transport.

His entry into the Catholic Earthcare role as Director sees him connecting to a loosely affiliated network of animated champions across Catholic agencies and growing this into a coordinated response on Laudato Si for the Catholic Church in Australia.

Bernard holds a Master of Education and Master of Business Administration and Grad Dip in Religious Education.

Mr Peter Kearney

Singer-songwriter and audio-visual presenter

In recent years, Peter has created a series of audio-visual sequences for live presentations and DVDs. Two of these sequences are about his 700+km walks along Camino pilgrimage paths in Spain and France. Others, 'The Kerry Way' and 'Surprising Ireland, Deeper Home', are about walks in Ireland. With his Irish wife, Madge O'Brien, Peter has enjoyed many lengthy stays in Ireland.

As a songwriter, Peter has been called a pioneer in contemporary religious song. His earliest hymns 'Fill My House' and 'The Beatitudes' published in 1966 became internationally known. From 1982 Peter made music his work. As well as writing and publishing he has toured in all Australian states and overseas in Ireland, the United Kingdom and the USA to present his workshops and concerts.

To date, fifteen albums of his songs and hymns have been published. His compositions have been included in many hymnals. His 'This Is Our School' has been adopted as a school song by hundreds of Australian schools.

Peter's earthy songs of justice and compassion have been recognised as a distinctive contribution to the modern Church. Many of his songs were inspired through a forty-year friendship with Father Ted Kennedy. Ted became well known as a great friend and fierce advocate for Aboriginal people in St. Vincent's Parish, Redfern in Sydney.

The 'big work' of Peter's creative life is 'Good Morning Good People', a musical-narrative on the life of St. Francis of Assisi. Peter has performed this work in many Australian concerts, also in England, Scotland and Ireland.

Fr Richard Leonard sj

Director, Australian Catholic Office for Film & Broadcasting; Honorary Fellow of the Australian Catholic University

Richard Leonard is a Jesuit priest. He has degrees in arts and education, as well as a Master’s degree in theology. Fr Richard did graduate studies at the London Film School and has a PhD from the University of Melbourne. He directs the Australian Catholic Office for Film & Broadcasting, is an Honorary Fellow of the Australian Catholic University; has been a visiting scholar within the School of Theatre, Film & Television at UCLA and a Visiting Professor at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. Fr Richard has served on juries at the Cannes, Venice, Berlin, Warsaw, Hong Kong, Montreal, Brisbane and Melbourne International Film Festivals and he has lectured on faith and culture all over the world. He has been published in America Magazine, Eureka Street, US Catholics, is regular columnist with The London Tablet and is a regular guest on ABC Radio. He is the author of ten books, the next one Hatch, Match & Dispatch: A Catholic Guide to Sacraments will be released in February 2019.

Fr Patrick McInerney SSC

Director, Columban Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations

Rev Dr Patrick McInerney is a Columban priest. He was assigned to Pakistan for over twenty years. He is Director of the Columban Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations. He offers courses on Islam and Interreligious dialogue at the Catholic Institute of Sydney and the Broken Bay Institute TAITE, participates in interfaith conferences and organisations, and gives talks on Christian-Muslim and Interreligious Relations to a wide variety of audiences.

Mr Mark Raue

Professional Assistant to the Director of Schools, Catholic Education Office, Wollongong

Mark Raue is a Professional Assistant to the Director of Schools in the Catholic Education Office in Wollongong and leads Strategic Planning & Policy for the system of schools. His current responsibilities include overseeing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education and the system response to Laudato Si.

Apart from developing the strategic direction for the system of schools, Mark is also responsible for designing the School Review and Improvement Framework and as such he has a keen interest in the integration of mission and for assisting schools to measure indicators of mission and Catholicity.

Born and bred in Wollongong NSW, Beth has worked in Catholic Education for 30 years. She has been a Primary teacher, Religious Education Coordinator, Education Officer in Catholic Life Education Mission and is currently Education Officer (Special Projects) in Strategic Planning & Policy/Office of the Director (SPP) at the Catholic Education Office, Diocese of Wollongong. Beth has also contributed to the continuing partnership with Catholic Mission begun in 2015 working within the adult formation team.

Beth is passionate about enlivening religious education and Catholic School communities so that they are relevant to both students and teachers and works to help schools read the ‘signs of the times’ so that they can be communities of justice, inclusivity, sustainability and hospitality.

One of Beth’s key roles is leading the system response to the Papal encyclical Laudato Si' through building staff capacity in ecological conversion with particular emphasis on creating links with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education and Spiritualities. Areas of her work include the development of resources for schools and providing professional learning experiences in environmental education, ecological conversion and influencing system policy development ensuring alignment with Laudato Si’.

Previously Beth coordinated the Religious Literacy Assessment Project for Primary students across the Wollongong diocese. She has also been involved in RE curriculum and assessment, faith formation initiatives and programs for both students and teachers. Beth’s qualifications include Diploma of Teaching (Primary), Bachelor of Education and Master of Arts (Theological Studies).

The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council

The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council (NATSICC) is the peak advisory body to the Australian Catholic Bishops on issues relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholics. The Council was founded in 1992 and the Secretariat is based in Adelaide. Each State and Territory nominates a representative via their local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ministry. The Council meets monthly via teleconference and twice yearly on a face to face basis. NATSICC advises the Bishops Commission for relations with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholics. NATSICC is a not for profit organisation that is funded by the Catholic Church and Caritas Australia’s First Nations program. For more information on representatives visit www.natsicc.org.au

Sr Stancea Vichie MSS

Congregational Leader, Missionary Sister of Service

Stancea Vichie is a Missionary Sister of Service, an Australian congregation founded by Father John Wallis in 1944. She has worked in urban, rural, and outback parts of Australia and short stints overseas, a mission which has included pastoral work, Congregational leadership, adult faith formation, advocacy with asylum seekers, people who are victims of human trafficking.

“It is the conference that most lifts my spirit and my hope – this is my third one and it was superb.”

The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council (NATSICC) is the peak advisory body to the Australian Catholic Bishops on issues relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholics. The Council was founded in 1992 and the Secretariat is based in Adelaide. Each State and Territory nominates a representative via their local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ministry. The Council meets monthly via teleconference and twice yearly on a face to face basis. NATSICC advises the Bishops Commission for relations with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholics. NATSICC is a not for profit organisation that is funded by the Catholic Church and Caritas Australia’s First Nations program. For more information on representatives visit www.natsicc.org.au

Dr Carol Zinn, a Sister of St Joseph from Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, PA has ministered in the formal and non-formal education profession. She has taught from pre-K through to post-graduate and has worked in the fields of educational leadership, religious education, sacramental coordinator, and music minister. Dr Zinn has a Bachelor of Science in Education, a Master’s in Theology and a Doctorate in Curriculum Development and Education Foundations. She was also a research fellow at Episcopal Divinity School and Harvard University on the topic: Leadership and Transformation.

Dr Zinn worked in grassroots-based international movements as consultant and facilitator. In particular, she worked on the United Religions Initiative and the Earth Charter. She works with multi-sector and multi-issue groups in helping people deepen an understanding of global realities, local efforts, and the connections inherent. Dr Zinn also worked as the Education Program Director for Global Education Associates, a non-governmental organization working to further global systemic change.

Dr Zinn served as the main representative for the Congregations of St Joseph, an NGO in General Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council at the United Nations. She represented over 15,000 Sisters of St Joseph who live and minister in 57 countries. In this capacity she participated in UN meetings on the topics of Human Rights, Eradication of Poverty, Environment, Peace and Disarmament, Education, Sustainable Development, Women, Children and Healthcare. She also spent time with individual congregations and provinces in helping them connect their particular efforts and energies to the global issues and concerns.

Dr Zinn served on her Congregation’s leadership team and in the Presidency of Leadership Conference of Women Religious for a three year term, 2012-2015. She served as the Senior Vice President for Mission Integration for Plante Moran Cresa Company working with Congregations as they discerned the future of their mission and charism and fully living of their religious life during these transformational times. Currently Carol serves as the Executive Director of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious.

Sr Carol Zinn ssj

Executive Director of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious

Paul Tighe was born 1958 and completed his secondary education at Summerhill College, Sligo. He graduated from University College Dublin in 1979 with a degree in Civil Law.

Having studied for the priesthood at Holy Cross College, Dublin and at the Pontifical Irish College in Rome, he was ordained a priest of the Dublin Diocese in 1983. His first appointment was as parish chaplain and teacher in Ballyfermot. Subsequently, he was assigned to study Moral Theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.

In 1990, Paul was appointed as a Lecturer in Moral Theology at the Mater Dei Institute of Education in Dublin and at Holy Cross College. In 2004 he was named as Director of the Communications Office of Dublin Diocese. In 2005 he established the Office for Public Affairs which aimed to promote the engagement of the Diocese with public institutions and civic society.

In November 2007 he was appointed as Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications. In that capacity he was involved in promoting Church reflection on the importance of digital culture and in the launch of some of the social media initiatives of the Holy See.

In June 2014 he was appointed Secretary to the Vatican Media Committee, chaired by Lord Christopher Patten, which was charged with developing a plan for the restructuring of the Holy See’s communications resources.

In December 2015 he was nominated Adjunct Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Culture and titular Bishop of Drivastum. At the Council for Culture, Bishop Tighe has taken a special issue in questions related to digital culture (artificial intelligence etc.) and contemporary literature. In October 2017, he was nominated Secretary of the Council.

Bishop Paul Tighe

Secretary, Pontifical Council for Culture

Biography to come...

Ravina Waldren

Coordinator, Murri Ministry, Archdiocese of Brisbane

Robert Fitzgerald AM was a Commissioner on the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse for five years and is currently a full time Commissioner with the Productivity Commission. Robert was formerly the NSW Community and Disability Services Commissioner and Deputy Ombudsman.

Robert, a commercial lawyer by profession, has a diverse background and extensive experience in commerce, law, public policy and community services. He has served on numerous NGO boards and committees including previously as President Australian Council of Social Service. Robert was the inaugural Chair of the Advisory Board, Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission. He has been involved in numerous Catholic agencies including as State President of the St Vincent de Paul Society NSW, Board of Caritas Australia and Member of the NSW Catholic Commission on Employment Relations.

Robert holds degrees in commerce and law from the University of NSW and an honorary doctorate from the Australian Catholic University. He was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1994.

Mr Robert Fitzgerald AM

Commissioner, Productivity Commission

In November 2017 Lana Turvey-Collins began with the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference working to facilitate a three year process of listening, dialogue and discernment about the future of the Catholic Church in Australia. Prior to this appointment, Lana worked as the Program Manager for Mission Formation and Professional Development for Catholic Mission. She has studied in the areas of mission, theology and Church, and holds bachelor degrees in commerce and arts and a master's degree in development and human rights.

Before joining Catholic Mission, Lana worked with teams in business on leadership, implementation of vision, values and organisational culture. Lana is passionate about God’s mission and believes there is great richness amidst the diversity and difference in the world. She has lived and worked in Zambia, Peru, Timor-Leste and Japan.

Mrs Lana Turvey-Collins

Plenary Council 2020 Facilitator

Sr Lyndall Brown rsj

Spiritual Accompanier of Retreats and Workshops

Lyndall Brown is a Sister of St. Joseph whose life has been enriched in the various ministries she has been involved in, beginning with Education. For many years Lyndall has been involved in working with adults, enabling them to enrich their lives through retreats, workshops in spirituality and personal group, and through Spiritual Accompaniment.

Fr Noel Connolly SSC

Head of Mission and Culture, Catholic Institute of Sydney

Noel Connolly is a Columban missionary priest. He worked in Korea, was Rector of the Pacific Mission Institute, Vicar General of the Columbans world-wide, and Director of the Columbans in Australia and New Zealand. He is presently Head of Mission and Culture at the Catholic Institute of Sydney and member of Catholic Mission’s Adult Formation Team. He has also been appointed by the Australian Bishops as a member of the Facilitation Team for the Plenary Council 2020. Besides mission theology, his major interest is in growing our increasingly multicultural Australian Church. He has worked with numerous Dioceses to help welcome and enable overseas priests and religious.

Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB

Head of Mission and Culture, Catholic Institute of Sydney

Born in Melbourne Timothy Costelloe worked in industry and started studying to be a teacher before joining the Salesians of Don Bosco in 1977. In 1985 he made his Final Profession as a Salesian of Don Bosco and was ordained to the priesthood in 1986.

After three years as Religious Education Coordinator at Salesian College, Chadstone, he went to Rome to complete a Licentiate in Sacred Theology at the Salesian Pontifical University in 1991. He returned to Melbourne to lecture in Systematic Theology at Catholic Theological College.

In 1996 he became parish priest of St Joachim’s, Victoria Park, WA and lectured in theology at the University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle. He also completed his doctorate in theology from the Melbourne College of Divinity.

He was appointed as Rector of the Salesian formation community in Melbourne in 2000 and resumed teaching commitments at Catholic Theological College. In 2006 he became parish priest of St John the Baptist Parish, Clifton Hill and in the following year of the adjoining parish of St Joseph’s, Collingwood. He was a member of the Provincial Council of the Salesians from 2002-2007, Provincial Delegate for Formation in the Australian Province from 2003-2007, and Regional Delegate for Formation for the East Asia-Oceania Salesian region in 2006.

Archbishop Costelloe was appointed Titular Bishop of Clonard and Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne on 30 April 2007. As an auxiliary bishop in Melbourne, he was given responsibility for the northern region of the Archdiocese and made Episcopal Vicar for Tertiary Education, Chair of the Catholic Education Commission of Victoria, Chair of the Mannix College Council, Chair of the Steering Committee for the Catholic Leadership Centre, Chair of the Advisory Board of the Archbishop’s Office for Evangelisation and the Archbishop’s delegate for Youth Ministry in the Archdiocese of Melbourne. He was also an Adjunct Professor at the Australian Catholic University.

On 20 February 2012, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Archbishop Costelloe as the ninth Bishop and sixth Archbishop of Perth. He was solemnly installed on 21 March 2012.

In the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, Archbishop Costelloe is currently a member of the Permanent Committee, the Bishops Commission for Doctrine and Morals and the Bishops Commission for the Plenary Council. He was appointed by the Pope Francis as President of the Plenary Council 2020 in March 2018.

Ms Andrea Dean

Director, Office for the Participation of Women and the Office for Lay Pastoral Ministry

Andrea Dean grew up in the small gold mining village of Adelong on the south western slopes of New South Wales. After training as teacher she worked in various fields of education for more than 30 years.

Initially she taught in rural New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. A highlight was the time she spent living in Papua New Guinea where she worked in the Vanimo district from 1993 to 1996.

Eventually settling in Canberra, Andrea has been involved in leadership, facilitation and teaching through the Catholic Education Office, the Australian Catholic University and the University of Canberra. In 2004, she received a Churchill Fellowship and visited the USA to investigate programs in teacher formation. For a time, Andrea worked as an independent consultant and retreat facilitator in her business, Future Matters. Currently Director of the Office for the Participation of Women and the Office for Lay Pastoral Ministry within the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, she is passionate about making a difference in the world and in the Church.

Patrick has studied widely and extensively in areas including theology, education, music, philosophy, international development and cross-cultural studies. He has lived in the United States of America, Italy, Guatemala (in both Indigenous and Latino Communities) and Singapore and has travelled extensively. Fluent in five languages, Patrick’s most recent work has been throughout Asia working with multi-national companies in cross-cultural relationships and communications.

Mr Phil Glenndening

Director, Edmund Rice Centre

Phil Glendenning AM Director, Edmund Rice Centre & President, Refugee Council of Australia Keynote speaker Phil was one of the original co-founders of Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation (ANTaR) and for 10 years was National President. He has served on the Australian Council for Social Service, various committees of the Australian Council for Overseas Aid and the Centre for an Ethical Society. Phil also led the research team for the Deported To Danger series, which monitored the safety of rejected asylum seekers in 22 countries, and resulted in the internationally screened documentary, A Well Founded Fear.

Mr Lawrie Hallinan

Executive Officer, Association of Ministerial PJPs

Lawrie grew up in Gippsland before moving to Melbourne where he worked on the Diocesan Youth Apostolate (1986-87). Having completed a Social Work degree he then worked in mental health.

For the past 22 years he has lived in Newcastle, NSW, where he has been active within the Church and worked in management of NGO mental health and aged care.

Since 2017, Lawrie has been employed as Executive Officer with the Association of Ministerial PJPs and been a member of the Board of Southern Cross Care (NSW & ACT). These settings enable him to pursue his passion for social justice, environmental sustainability and best practice governance.

Mr Tony and Mrs Annette Hoban

Married for more than 30 years Tony and Annette Hoban have three adult children. Tony is a permanent Deacon, ordained in 2009.

Tony is Director of Formation for the Permanent Diaconate in the Diocese of Parramatta and on the National Executive of the National Association of Deacons. He is also involved in prison ministry with Kairos.

Bishop of Parramatta, Vincent Long, appointed Tony as Pastoral Director of the Parochial District (future parish) of St Luke’s, Marsden Park from January 2018. Marsden Park is a rapidly growing new suburb in the north-west of Sydney. St Luke’s Catholic Faith Community celebrates Mass at St Luke’s Catholic College, Marsden Park, a new school which commenced in 2017.

In the leadership of this community Tony and Annette are supported by an advisory group which was formed shortly after their move to Marsden Park.

Tony, Annette and their children had been parishioners at Christ The King Parish, North Rocks, for 15 years before this appointment, with Tony as Deacon for the final 8 years.

Tony moved to this role after a career which spanned many areas, from starting out as a newspaper journalist, to working as Media and Government Relations Manager with NRMA, to senior business management roles in a number of organisations, such as Business Manager for CatholicCare Social Services in the Diocese of Parramatta, as Executive Officer for St Vincent de Paul Society, Parramatta, a short time with Catholic Mission and establishing campus ministry services nationally for staff of Australian Catholic University.

Tony has a Bachelor of Theology degree, a Master of Business Administration and a Company Directors’ Diploma and has recently been undertaking studies in Pastoral Counselling.

Annette has worked for the Federal court reporting service and in retail, service and education roles.

Both Tony and Annette have served as President of the North Rocks Conference of the St Vincent de Paul Society.

Bernard Holland

Director, Catholic Earthcare, Australia

Bernard is an educator and advocate with 22 years’ experience as a Primary School principal in rural, remote and metropolitan schools including ten years as foundation principal of St Mary MacKillop School, Birkdale.

After being awarded a Churchill Fellowship and travelling extensively researching ecology programs and the sustainable built environment, Bernard worked with Brisbane Catholic Education on their response to ecological conversion in schools and their new schools. He was then appointed as Director of Eco Schools based in Copenhagen, coordinating the largest environmental education network globally, operating in 64 countries.

In recent years, Bernard has worked in both education and advocacy roles in a number of organisations to drive sustainability in the areas of agriculture and transport.

His entry into the Catholic Earthcare role as Director sees him connecting to a loosely affiliated network of animated champions across Catholic agencies and growing this into a coordinated response on Laudato Si for the Catholic Church in Australia.

Bernard holds a Master of Education and Master of Business Administration and Grad Dip in Religious Education.

Mr Peter Kearney

Singer-songwriter and audio-visual presenter

In recent years, Peter has created a series of audio-visual sequences for live presentations and DVDs. Two of these sequences are about his 700+km walks along Camino pilgrimage paths in Spain and France. Others, 'The Kerry Way' and 'Surprising Ireland, Deeper Home', are about walks in Ireland. With his Irish wife, Madge O'Brien, Peter has enjoyed many lengthy stays in Ireland.

As a songwriter, Peter has been called a pioneer in contemporary religious song. His earliest hymns 'Fill My House' and 'The Beatitudes' published in 1966 became internationally known. From 1982 Peter made music his work. As well as writing and publishing he has toured in all Australian states and overseas in Ireland, the United Kingdom and the USA to present his workshops and concerts.

To date, fifteen albums of his songs and hymns have been published. His compositions have been included in many hymnals. His 'This Is Our School' has been adopted as a school song by hundreds of Australian schools.

Peter's earthy songs of justice and compassion have been recognised as a distinctive contribution to the modern Church. Many of his songs were inspired through a forty-year friendship with Father Ted Kennedy. Ted became well known as a great friend and fierce advocate for Aboriginal people in St. Vincent's Parish, Redfern in Sydney.

The 'big work' of Peter's creative life is 'Good Morning Good People', a musical-narrative on the life of St. Francis of Assisi. Peter has performed this work in many Australian concerts, also in England, Scotland and Ireland.

Fr Richard Leonard sj

Director, Australian Catholic Office for Film & Broadcasting; Honorary Fellow of the Australian Catholic University

Richard Leonard is a Jesuit priest. He has degrees in arts and education, as well as a Master’s degree in theology. Fr Richard did graduate studies at the London Film School and has a PhD from the University of Melbourne. He directs the Australian Catholic Office for Film & Broadcasting, is an Honorary Fellow of the Australian Catholic University; has been a visiting scholar within the School of Theatre, Film & Television at UCLA and a Visiting Professor at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. Fr Richard has served on juries at the Cannes, Venice, Berlin, Warsaw, Hong Kong, Montreal, Brisbane and Melbourne International Film Festivals and he has lectured on faith and culture all over the world. He has been published in America Magazine, Eureka Street, US Catholics, is regular columnist with The London Tablet and is a regular guest on ABC Radio. He is the author of ten books, the next one Hatch, Match & Dispatch: A Catholic Guide to Sacraments will be released in February 2019.

Fr Patrick McInerney SSC

Director, Columban Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations

Rev Dr Patrick McInerney is a Columban priest. He was assigned to Pakistan for over twenty years. He is Director of the Columban Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations. He offers courses on Islam and Interreligious dialogue at the Catholic Institute of Sydney and the Broken Bay Institute TAITE, participates in interfaith conferences and organisations, and gives talks on Christian-Muslim and Interreligious Relations to a wide variety of audiences.

Mr Mark Raue

Professional Assistant to the Director of Schools, Catholic Education Office, Wollongong

Mark Raue is a Professional Assistant to the Director of Schools in the Catholic Education Office in Wollongong and leads Strategic Planning & Policy for the system of schools. His current responsibilities include overseeing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education and the system response to Laudato Si.

Apart from developing the strategic direction for the system of schools, Mark is also responsible for designing the School Review and Improvement Framework and as such he has a keen interest in the integration of mission and for assisting schools to measure indicators of mission and Catholicity.

Born and bred in Wollongong NSW, Beth has worked in Catholic Education for 30 years. She has been a Primary teacher, Religious Education Coordinator, Education Officer in Catholic Life Education Mission and is currently Education Officer (Special Projects) in Strategic Planning & Policy/Office of the Director (SPP) at the Catholic Education Office, Diocese of Wollongong. Beth has also contributed to the continuing partnership with Catholic Mission begun in 2015 working within the adult formation team.

Beth is passionate about enlivening religious education and Catholic School communities so that they are relevant to both students and teachers and works to help schools read the ‘signs of the times’ so that they can be communities of justice, inclusivity, sustainability and hospitality.

One of Beth’s key roles is leading the system response to the Papal encyclical Laudato Si' through building staff capacity in ecological conversion with particular emphasis on creating links with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education and Spiritualities. Areas of her work include the development of resources for schools and providing professional learning experiences in environmental education, ecological conversion and influencing system policy development ensuring alignment with Laudato Si’.

Previously Beth coordinated the Religious Literacy Assessment Project for Primary students across the Wollongong diocese. She has also been involved in RE curriculum and assessment, faith formation initiatives and programs for both students and teachers. Beth’s qualifications include Diploma of Teaching (Primary), Bachelor of Education and Master of Arts (Theological Studies).

The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council

The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council (NATSICC) is the peak advisory body to the Australian Catholic Bishops on issues relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholics. The Council was founded in 1992 and the Secretariat is based in Adelaide. Each State and Territory nominates a representative via their local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ministry. The Council meets monthly via teleconference and twice yearly on a face to face basis. NATSICC advises the Bishops Commission for relations with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholics. NATSICC is a not for profit organisation that is funded by the Catholic Church and Caritas Australia’s First Nations program. For more information on representatives www.natsicc.org.au

Sr Stancea Vichie MSS

Congregational Leader, Missionary Sister of Service

Stancea Vichie is a Missionary Sister of Service, an Australian congregation founded by Father John Wallis in 1944. She has worked in urban, rural, and outback parts of Australia and short stints overseas, a mission which has included pastoral work, Congregational leadership, adult faith formation, advocacy with asylum seekers, people who are victims of human trafficking.